RAIDERS NOTEBOOK / Janikowski's Ailing Foot Responding to Treatment

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, November 9, 2000

"He's improving," coach Jon Gruden said of the kicker who is hospitalized with cellulitis in his left foot. "We are optimistic about having him later this week. He is responding well to the treatment. I will learn more when I talk to the medical people. We expect to have him full force ready for the game. . . ."

"He was in good spirits," Lechler said. "He was in a totally different mood than he was on Sunday. He was a pretty grumpy guy on Sunday."

Lechler is doing the kicking this week in practice. "But I'm doing it just to keep everybody's timing," he said. "It's not necessarily to get me ready for the game."

Should Janikowski be unavailable, the Raiders would probably sign Brett Conway, the former Redskins kicker who was in Alameda for a workout Tuesday.

"He's got a live leg, he always has," Gruden said. "We'll continue to look at his situation, and the availability of some other guys if we need to go that route."

OTHER INJURIES: Matt Stinchcomb returned to practice after missing the Kansas City game with a leg injury. "He moved around pretty good," Gruden said.

Defensive end Lance Johnstone (groin), running back Tyrone Wheatley (two sprained ankles) and fullback Jon Ritchie (calf and groin) all were held out of practice and are questionable. Wheatley and Ritchie missed practice last week and were able to play against Kansas City.

MISCELLANY: Quarterback Rich Gannon was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. . . . Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan and former Raiders running back Clem Daniels were visitors to practice yesterday.

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